About us
Well , we are an Apostolic church, we are located in Bradenton Florida. Our Congregation consists
of a little more over a hundred members. Our pastor is Bishop Martin Vasquez. We are blessed
to have five ministers and many talented musicians. Our youth group consists of a little over
twenty active youth.
We hope that other churches see this site and learn a little about us and hopefully giving us some
insight on their church and activities
1. The Church
We believe that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is one and that it is universal and indivisible. Composing of all men regardless of nationality, language, race or custom. Who have accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior having been baptized into His Body by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13)
2. There is only One God
We believe there is only One God who has manifested Himself in the world in various forms throughout the ages. And that He has specially revealed Himself as Father in the creation of the universe, as Son in the redemption of humanity, and as the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the believers. The first commandment is, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord" (Mark 12:29, Deut. 6:4). "But to us there is but one God" (1 Corinthians 8:6).
3. Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was born miraculously of the Virgin Mary through the work of the Holy Spirit and that at the same time He is the one and only true God (Romans 9:5; 1 John 5:20). We believe that God took upon Himself human form (John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16).
We believe that the divine attributes and the human nature of God were incorporated in an incomprehensible yet perfect form in Christ Jesus. We believe, therefore, that Jesus Christ is God (Colossians 2:9).
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as promised by God in the Old Testament and as poured forth after the glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ (Joel 2:28-29; John 7:37-39, 14:16-26; Acts 2:1-4). Furthermore, we believe that a person demonstrates that they have been baptized with the Holy Spirit through the evidence of speaking in new tongues or languages as the Spirit leads them.
We also believe that the Holy Spirit helps us form a Christian character (Galatians 5:22-25). This same Spirit endows us with gifts for the edification of the Church (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-12; Ephesians 4:7-13).
5. Water Baptism
We believe in baptism by immersion in the Name of Jesus Christ and that it should be administered by an Ordained Minister. Baptism should be by immersion because it represents the death of man unto sin which is like unto the death of Christ (Romans 6:1-5). And in the name of Jesus Christ, since this was the practice of the Apostles and Ministers who baptized during the early period of the Church according to the Holy Scriptures (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:6, 22:16)
6. The Lord's Supper
We believe in the literal practice of the Lord's Supper as instituted by Him (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
The object of this ceremony is to commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ until His return to earth and to demonstrate the communion and fellowship existing among the believers. The Church also practices the additional ceremony of washing each other's feet in conjunction with or without the Lord's Supper as an act of humility and Christian fellowship (1 Tim. 5:10)
7. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
We believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ which took place on the third day after His death as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 27:60-64; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 25:1-12, 25:36-44; John 20:12-20). This resurrection had been foretold by the prophets (Isaiah 53:12).
8. The Resurrection of the Just and Unjust.
We believe that there will be a literal resurrection of the dead in Christ and that they will be given a glorified and spiritual body in which they will live forever in the presence of the Lord (John 5:29; Acts 24:15; 1 Thess. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:35-54). We believe also that there will be a resurrection of the unjust, but these will awake from the tombs, only to be judged and hear the hard sentence that will make them heirs of eternal fire (Matt. 25:26; John 5:29; Rev. 20:12-15; Mark 9:44).
9. The Rapture of the Church and the Millennium
We believe that the Church, composed of the dead in Christ and the faithful living upon the earth at the time of the Rapture, will be lifted, will meet the Lord in the air and will take part in the wedding feast of the Lamb of God. We believe this will take place before the Great Tribulation. Thereafter, the Church will descend with the Lord to earth to pass judgement upon the nations and it will reign with Christ for a thousand years. This period will be preceded by the Battle of Armageddon which the Lord will end descending upon the Mount of Olives with all His host of angels (1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil.3:20-21; Isaiah 65:17-25; Dan.7:27; Romans 11:25-27; Rev.20:1-5).
10. The Final Judgement
We believe the Lord has prepared a judgement day in which all men who have died without Christ and those living upon the earth will participate. The Church will not be judged on this occasion. Upon termination of this judgement, the present heavens and earth will be renewed by fire and the faithful will dwell in the New Jerusalem (1 Cor.5:10; 6:2-3; Daniel 7:8-10, 7:14,18; Romans 2:16, 14:10; Rev. 20:5-15, 21:1-6).
11. Divine Healing
We believe that God has the power to heal our physical bodies and is effected through the combination of the faith of the believer and power in the Name of Jesus Christ, whose Name is invoked when praying for the sick. The Lord Jesus Christ promised that those who believed in His Name would lay hands on the sick and they would recover (Mark 16:18). The sick should be anointed with oil in the Name of Jesus Christ by Ordained Ministers to effect the promise of the Lord (John 14:13; Psalm 103:1-4; Luke 9:1-3, 10:9; I Cor.12:9; James 5:14-16).
We recommend that all members and Ministers of our Church abstain from criticizing medical science, since God has given men and women the ability to continue discovering the secrets of the human body.
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2. Holiness
We believe that all members of the Body of Christ should be holy, that is, separated from sin and consecrated to the service of the Lord (Lev.19:2, 2 Cor.7:1; Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 Thess.4:3-4; 2 Tim.2:21; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:16).
13. Matrimony
We believe that marriage is holy since it was instituted in the beginning (Gen.2:21-24; Matt.19:1-15; Hebrews 13:4). Couples who have not fulfilled the requirements of civil law in regards to marriage should do so before being baptized. We believe that when a couple unites in marriage, they should remain united until death. Upon the death of one, the other is free to remarry and does not commit sin if he or she marries in the Lord (Romans 7:1-3; 1 Cor.7:39). We believe, furthermore, that marriages should take place solely among faithful church members.
14. Church and State
We believe in the separation of the Church and State and that neither should intervene in the internal affairs of the other since this fulfills a biblical precept (Mark 12:17). Christians should participate in civil activities insofar as their own personal inclinations, ideas and opinions permit. They should obey the civil authorities and all laws and ordinances issued by them unless these are contradictory to their religious principles or constrain them to act against their conscience (Romans 13:1-7)
15. Military Service
We recognize human government as ordained by God (Romans 13:1-2). We admonish our members to affirm loyalty to our country. According to the following scriptures, it is believed and interpreted that the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ should not shed human blood taking lives and destroying their properties (Matt.5:19, 26:52; Hebrews 12:14, Romans 12:19; James 5:6; Rev.13:10). All members, therefore, are advised to answer voluntarily to the call of their country, whether in time of peace or war and serve in any capacity no matter how hard or dangerous it may be, as long as it is of NONCOMBATANT CHARACTER (1 Tim.2:1-3)
16. The "Sin unto Death"
We believe that there is a sin unto death and that if this sin is committed the right to salvation is lost (Matt.12:31-32; Romans 6:28; Hebrews 10:26-27; 1 John 5:16-17). Therefore, we recommend that the faithful abstain from giving ear to doctrines that promise eternal security to the Christian without regard to their conduct. The Bible teaches that we must remain faithful unto the end (Romans 2:6-10; 1 Cor.9:26-27).
17. Financial System of the Church
We believe the system the Bible teaches, for the purpose of obtaining the funds necessary to carry out the work of the Lord, is that of tithes and offerings and that this should be practiced by Ministers and believers alike (Gen.28:22; Malachi 3:10; Matt.23:23; Luke 6:38; Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor.9:3-14, 16:1-2; Galatians 6:6-10; Philemon 4:10-12; Hebrews 13:16).
18. The Ministerial Body
We believe that the Ministry is a calling of God and that the Holy Spirit confers upon each Minister the privilege of serving the Church in distinct capacities and with distinct gifts, whose manifestations are all towards edification of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:6-18; 1 Cor.12:5-11; Ephesians 4:11-12).
It is up to the ecclesiastical governments which are duly organized to examine the candidates for the Ministry to determine whether they should be approved to serve therein and assign them their duty (Acts 1:23-26, 6:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:1-10, 4:14, 5:22; Titus 1:5-9).
We also believe that the Holy Spirit uses its Ministers in various ways according to the needs of the work of the Lord and the capability and personal disposition of the Minister. No one can be placed in a higher position than that of which he is worthy (1 Tim.3:13; Romans 12:3).
We believe that the Bishopry is the highest office work in the Ministry and that special respect and consideration should be given those who occupy it without giving less consideration to those that occupy positions of lesser responsibility.
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